Airship



Dec. 0 1927. v

. v P. scHROuER AIRSHII' Filed June 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pitts go toffered to the wind Parts offered to the wind.

condensed water.

warm liquid.

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1?. SCHRODER nasal? .Fi June 4., 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Q 42 ATraw/EY Dc.2O 1927. 1,653,603

9. SCHRODER AIRSBIP Filed June 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 warm liquidParts offered. to the wmd.

Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,653,603 PATENT OFFICE.

RAUL scHRonRR, or STUTTGART, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR 'JJO EXCAELUMIcoRPoRA'rIoN,

- A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

AIRSHIP.

Application filed June 4,

The present invention relates broadly to lightcr-than-air air-ships andmore especially to apparatus and the method for conserving water in theexhaust gases of the motors and using such water for ballast or otherdesired uses.

Lighter-than-air airships are usually propelled by hydrocarbon engines,and large sized ships carry a substantial supply of fuel. This fuel istransformed by the engines from a liquid to a gas, while the ship is inflight, and this gas when dissipated to the atmosphere causes the loadof the ship to become lighter in weight as the fuel is consumed. Thisresults in the ship rising to undesired heights and necessitates valvingof the buoyant gases, particularly when a landing is to be made.

It has been proposed to condense the water in the exhaust engine gasesby subjecting the gas carrying conduits to the air around the airship,to cool the hot exhaust gases. This prior known method possesses suchdisadvantages as to render the same impracticable. The conduits or pipescarrying the exhaust gases are according to the prior art subjected tovery great variations in temperature tending to cause bursting of thepipes and loosening of the joints. Furthermore, the cooling of the sidesof the hot col umn of gas passing through these pipes cause aneddyingaction which throws the soot in the exhaust gases outwardly and quicklycoats the pipes with a heat insulating coating that tends to clog thepipes, increases the fire hazard, and decreases the heat transferringpossibilities, thereby decreasing the efiectiveness of the coolingarrangements. Furthermore, this prior system requires very large areasto be brought in contact with the surrounding air and therefore greathead resistance is added which otherwise would not exist. Such prior artsystems therefore greatly decrease the effective speed of the airship.

The present invention comprises the method and apparatus for effectuallycondensing the water in the exhaust gases from hydrocarbon engines usedto drive the airship, by means of maintaining the large hot exhaust gasconduits inside of stream line portions of the airship and thenutilizing a heat transfer fluid circulating through cooling pipes withinthe exhaust gas conduits,

1926. Serial No. 113,615.

and leading this cooling fluid from these pipes to relatively smallradiators mounted in such manner as to be-exposed to the air surroundingthe ship. This method and apparatus facilitates causing the exhaustgases to pass through a grid of cooling pipes, of small diameter withinthe air ship, filled with a fluid capable of receiving and transferringheatunits from the hot exhaust gases without subjecting the coolingpipes to great variations in temperature. Furthermore, the use ofradiators for this fluid, which may comprise water, may be of a moreeflicient design than is possible where it is attempted tocool the largevolume exhaust gas by running the same through a neces sarily largeradiator.

It is realized that the present invention may be carried out by methodsand ap aratus other than those herewith speci cally disclosed andtherefore it is to be understood that the disclosure herewith is to beconsidered as diagrammatic and not in a limiting sense.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan View of a simple form of apparatus forcarrying out the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of another form of apparatus showingmulti-stage cooling apparatus for carrying out the invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational View on line AB of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating a construction in whichthe exhaust gases are subjected to a preliminary cooling water bath andare further cooled by a con denser, both of which are cooled by suitableradiators.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view taken on line C-D of theexhaust conduit illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a diagrammatic arrangement of a furtherdevelopment of the present invention in which the exhaust gases aresubjected to multiple cooling stages and in which closed condensers areemployed for cooling the exhaust gases and the condensed water iscarried away after each cooling stage.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of exhaust conduit taken on the line E--Fof Fig. 6.

Referring now more especially to Fig. 1

which diagrammatically illustrates one form of carrying out the presentinvention, the exhaust conduit 1 is of relatively large size to carryaway the large volume of gases produced by such hydrocarbon engines asare adapted for airship propulsion. -A condenser member comprising aplurality of condenser tubes 2, connected with suitable headers 4, aremounted within the exhaust conduit 1 in such manner as to provide amplespace for the passage of exhaust gases between and through the condenserpipes. The headers 4 are connected by suitable carrying pipes 6 and 7 toa radiator 8 located outside of the airship body and constructed in suchmanner as to dissipate heat to the air surrounding the ship. The pipe 7may be provided with a pump 9 in order to facilitate the circulation ofthe cooling fluid, which may be water. The parts of the system otherthan the radiator 8 are all located within the airship proper in suchmanner as to be protected from the outside air through which the shipmoves, so that these parts are not subjected to great variations intemperature, nor do they increase the head resistance of the ship. Theconstruction of the condenser pipes across the exhaust conduit does notencourage the formation or deposit of soot, for the reason that thepassage of the exhaust gases directly across these tubes tend to keepthe tubes clean, and thesoot which drops from the tubes is carried awayby the condensed water which falls into the trap 11 and is transferredto ballast tanks or other storage vessels which may be emptied andcleaned at the end of the voyage. The construction disclosed in Fig. 1is a very simple diagrammatic illustration of the present invention asapplied to small airships or to airships operating in a relatively moistclimate where the air itself carries a considerable content of moisture,so that the condensation of the water in the exhaust gases need not beas full and complete as may be required with larger ships operating in adry atmosphere.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 2 and 8, which showdiagrammatically a further development of my invention, the exhaustconduit 21 is crossed by a multi-stage cooling apparatus comprising thepreliminary condenser 22 connected with a radiator 24 exposed to theWind in such manner as to dissipate the heat transferred to thecondenser 22. Back of the condenser '22 is the second condenser 25 whichis similarly connected to a second radiator 26 also exposed to the wind.The first condenser will remove a portion of the heat units from theexhaust gases and the second condenser will remove still more of theheat units. A water trough 27 may be arranged across the exhaust conduitbeyond the condensers in such manner that the exhaust gases by theirmovement through the conduit 21 will Carry along globules of condensedwater which will fall into the trough 27 from which the condensed watermay be drained through thepipe 28 to suitable ballast tanks. .Wheredesired, pumps 29 and 30 may be provided in the preliminary and in thefinal cooling systems respectively; and also the pump 31 may be utilizedin the drain pipe 28.

In Figs. 4 and 5 that diagrammatically show a further development of myinvention, the exhaust conduit 101 is provided with a water reservoir102 in such manner that the exhaust gases pass over a 001 of coolingwater which water is carried y suitable pipes 104 and 105 to air exposedradiator 106. Condenser pipes 107 are constructed to cross the exhaustconduit 101 in such manner that the exhaust gases must pass over andaround the condenser pipes after having passed the open reservoir. Thesecondenser pipes are also connected by suitable carrying pipes 108 and109, to a radiator 110, also exposed to the air outside the airship. Asecond reservoir 111 is provided in the exhaust conduit 101 andpreferably is connected by an equalizer pipe 112 with the reservoir 102.The hot exhaust gases, while being cooled by the water in reservoir 102,vaporize some of the water so that the gases tend to be very humid whenthey strike cooling tubes 107. This is desirable because it will cause amaximum amount of condensation on the cooling tubes with the result thatthe tubes will be drenched and soot deposits effectively washed off. Thecondensate may run both to reservoir 102 and reservoir 111. The secondreservoir 111 will usually receive the larger amount of the watercondensed from the exhaust gases and by means of the pipe 112 willmaintain the reservoir 102 properly filled. Preferably, an outlet pipe114 leads from the reservoir 111 to storage tanks for the condensedwater. Suitable pumps 115 'and 116 may be provided to circulate theWater in the cooling systems and a pump 117 may be used to withdraw thewater of condensation and transfer the same to the ballast tanks orother storage tanks as may be desired. The upwardly inclined portion ofthe exhaust conduit leading from the second reservoir 111 may beprovided with staggered bafile plates 118 which present a relativelylarge area to receive and collect water particles which may be carriedalong with the exhaust gases after leaving the cooling zones and suchcondensed water will drain back into the reservoir 111. The constructiondisclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises an open cooling system including inits arrangement the open water reservoirs 102 and 111 connected bysuitable pipes with an air cooled radiator; and a closed cooling systemcomprising the condenser tubes 107, also connected through suitablepipes to its air 1 carried along by the cooled radiator. In this type ofdevice, the open water reservoirs tend to collect and carry away thesoot and heavy part1cles from the exhaust gases and to provide apreliminary cooling means for these gases. The condenser tubes comprisethe main cooling system and the baflie plates the final water collectingmedium. Thls system is well adapted for larger airships and in thissystem, as in the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the only part of thesystem exposed to the free air around the airship are the radiators 106and 110, all the other parts being properly housed within the a1rsh1pstructure.

The construction diagrammatically disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 comprises aconstruction in which the exhaust gases are subjected to a preliminarycooling, then pass over an open reservoir of condensed water, and thenthrough the final cooling devices and over another reservoir, andfinally are subjected to battle plates which catch any freely suspendedglobules of water being exhaust gases.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figures 6, and 7, theexhaust condu t 201 preferably leads downwardly and is crossed bycondenser tubes 202 comprising the preliminary condensing or coolingunit. These tubes 202 are connected by suitable pipes 204 and 205, withthe radiator 206 which is exposed to the free air around the airship. Asecond and final cooling device comprises the condenser tubes 207connected by pipes. 208 and 209, to an exposed radiator 210. Both ofthese condenser systems are closed circuits and may be provided withsuitable pumps 211 and 212, for circulating the cooling liquid as isdesired. Open reservoirs 214C and 215 may be arranged on each side ofthe final condenser and preferably are connected by communicating pipe216. These reservoirs are adapted to receive the condensed water, whichmay be carried away by a pipe 217 to suitable ballast or other tanks.The flow through pipe 217 may be controlled by a pump 218. Preferably,the exhaust conduit in its final portion is provided with baflie plates219, which are adapted to present a relatively large area to collectglobules of moisture bein carried along by the exhaust gases in t eirtortuous path through these bafiie plates.

From the foregoing, it will appear that my invention contemplatesarranging the large exhaust conduits Within the airship, and theutilization of a heat transferring fluid connected with radiatorsmounted outside the airship to dissipate heat into the atmosphere. Theheat is taken away from the main body of the exhaust gases, and theexhaust conduits cool gradually as the gases are cooled without greatheat variations, therefore, these large conduits are not undul stressed.Furthermore, any soot carrie by the exhaust gases is floated away by thecondensed water without choking or clogginv the conduits for the exhaustgases.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an airshippropelled by an internal combustion engine, an exhaust conduit withinthe airship for the exhaust gases, means for abstracting the heat fromsaid gases and transferring the heat to the outside of said airship todissipate the same into the surrounding atmosphere, water collectingmeans comprislng an open pan over which the exhaust gases flow, andstorage means to collect and receive the water condensed by the coolingof the exhaust gases.

2. In an airship propelled by internal combustion engines, an exhaustconduit, preliminary cooling means comprising an open water pan andfinal cooling means comprising condenser. tubes, both of said meansbeing adapted to transfer the heat of exhaust gases within said conduitto radiators lo cated in the atmosphere outside of said airship, andstorage means to store the water recovered by the cooling of said gases.

3. The method of cooling the hot exhaust gas from an internal combustionengine driving an airship, comprising flowing the hot gas directly overthe exposed surface of a cooling liquidwithin the airship, transferringsaid liquid to the exterior of the airship and there dissipating theheat to the outside atmosphere.

4. The method of cooling the hot exhaust as from an internal combustionengine driving an airship, comprising flowing the hot gas over a coolingmedium comprising an open pool of water within the airship, transferringa portion of said water to the exterior of the airship and theredissipating the heat from said water to the outside atmosphere.

5. The method of condensing the moisture in the hot exhaust gases froman internal combustion engine propelling an airship, comprising passingthe hot exhaust gases at least mediately over a constantly liquidcooling fluid, cooling said liquid at a point outside the airship, andcollecting and storing the water condensed by the cooling of the hotgases.

6. In an airship propelled by at least one internal combustion engine, aradiator outside of the airship, a constantly liquid cooling fluid,means to conduct said fluid to and from the radiator from a point withinthe airship, an exhaust conduit within the airship, and means totransfer heat from exhaust gases in the conduit to said cooling fluid.

7. In an airship propelled by at least one internal combustion engine,an exhaust conduit, means to condense moisture from gases flowingthrough said conduit, and means to humidify said ases before themoisture 1s condensed there rom.

' 8. In an airship propelled by at least one internal combustion engine;at least two radiators located outside of the airship, one for apreliminary cooling circuit and one for a secondary cooling circuit; aconstantly liquid cooling fluid for each of said cooling circuits; meansto conduct the fluids to and from the radiators from points within theairship; an exhaust conduit Within the airship; means in one zone alongthe exhaust conduit to transfer heat from the exhaust gases to thecooling fluid of the preliminary cooling circuit; "and means in anotherzone along the exhaust conduit to transfer additional heat from theexhaust gases to the cooling fluid of the secondary cooling circuit.

9. In an airship propelled by at least one internal combustion engine;an exhaust conduit located within the airship; cooling means comprisinga heat absorbing surface within the exhaust conduit, and a pair of waterpans opening into said conduit, one

located on the up-stream side of said cooling surface and the otherlocated on the downstream side of said coolin surface.

10. In an airship propelled by at least one internal combustion engine;an exhaust con- I 11. In an airship propelled by at least one internalcombustion engine; an open water pan; and means to carry 'the exhaustgases over the surface of the water in the pan, the path of approach tothe Water being arranged to cause the exhaust gases to be defiected bythe Water surface.

12. In an airship propelled by at leastone internal combustion engine;an open water pan; and means to carry the exhaust gases over the surfaceof the Water in the pan, the path of approach to the water beinginclined downwar ly and the path of departure being inclined upwardly.

PAUL SCHRODER.

